Voting on proposals for 2025 SXSW and 2025 SXSW EDU panels opened on August 6, and libraries are well represented among the many panels submitted for consideration. The annual SXSW conference, which explores what's next in tech, entertainment, and culture, has previously hosted library-related sessions, including "Counteracting Book Bans Through Libraries" in 2023 and "1984 or 2024? Book Bans. Censorship. The Fight for Democracy" in 2024. 

Up for consideration in the 2025 agenda include two new sessions focused on book bans and censorship: "Defending the Right to Read: Working Together" will bring Dan Novack, VP, General Counsel, Penguin Random House; Becky Calzada, District Library Coordinator, Leander ISD; Emily Kirkpatrick, Executive Director, National Council of Teachers of English; and David Levithan, author and editor at Scholastic together to discuss practical strategies for defending the right to read and to provide inspiration through powerful stories of resilience. "Guardians of Democracy: Libraries Ensure Information Access" will explore the vital connections between literacy, access and democracy with speakers Lisa Varga, Executive Director, Virginia Library Association (LJ's 2024 Librarian of the Year); Amber Seely, Division Director, Collections & Technical Services, Harris County Public Library, TX; and Skip Dye, SVP, Library Sales & Digital Strategy, Penguin Random House. 

Community voting is open through August 18.